To get any job, including that of a professional costume designer, you must have a well-written CV that shows how you would be an asset to the hiring company. Formatting and relevant information are important to showcase your abilities and professionalism. The included PDF of a professional costume designer CV example will help you determine which information to include, and the guidelines, tips, and tricks below will show you how to format your information properly.
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Talented costume designer with experience that ranges from dress of ancient civilizations to modern-day fashion trends. Previous work includes local theater, Broadway musicals, television shows, and major motion pictures. Extreme eye for detail, excellent time management skills, and the ability to communicate well with directors, makeup artists, writers, and actors ensure a qualified addition to any production team.
- Professional knowledge of fine arts that include costume design as well as dance, drama, music, and visual arts.
- Skilled listener who can provide full and selective attention to the producer, director, or actor to determine his or her take on a costume, discuss ideas, and implement changes as necessary.
- Qualified seamstress who can work with a sewing machine or by hand and do on-the-spot alterations or repairs when needed.
- Creative thinker who enjoys coming up with unusual costume ideas, especially those that mix old-fashioned clothing with a modern take based on today’s trends.
- Organized individual who can set goals, create schedules, and manage time effectively to ensure the entire production stays on track.
- Create and distribute checklists to the production team regarding dressing lists, show notes, and how to manage costume checks.
- Facilitate quick-change procedures during performances by arranging costumes in order of use and including all accessories with the main pieces.
- Fit cast members with costumes, examine them for alteration needs, and create sketches to denote how the costume should fit after alterations.
- Designed costumes and purchased clothing or fabric to create costumes based on production budgets.
- Checked costumes under show lights to determine if alterations were needed to create the desired effect.
- Collaborated with other costume designers and production team members to merge ideas and ensure visions matched.
- Shopped department stores, thrift shops, boutiques, garage sales, and online to acquire costume pieces including clothing, accessories, and shoes.
- Returned items to rental shops by due dates and ensured proper storage of purchased items between performances.
- Created stock inventory to determine what was readily available and what would need to be replenished before the next production.
In addition to working behind the scenes, I enjoy viewing theater performances and movies from the audience’s perspective. Each spring, I volunteer my abilities as a costume designer to my daughter’s high school production. Outside of the fine arts, I like to spend time gardening, hiking, and traveling to my family’s farm with my partner, our family, and our two miniature dachshunds.
Costume Designer Job Overview and Tips
What Does a Costume Designer Do?
A costume designer is responsible for creating actors’ and actresses’ costumes for theater productions, television shows, and movies. Costumes must fit the period in which the production falls as well as the directors’ and writers’ personal visions for their characters. Costume designers purchase or rent pieces as well as create them from scratch when necessary. They are responsible for fitting the cast, making alterations, storing the pieces, and returning those that were rented. A strong CV such as the one provided in the costume designer CV example is necessary to prove that you can do the job required of you in the industry.
Tips for Creating a Great Costume Designer CV
In addition to the ideas presented in the CV example, include the following guidelines in your CV:
- Do include relevant organizations or extracurricular activities you participated in, such as designing costumes for products at your college.
- Do not add personal or controversial information to your CV. For example, avoid listening your religion, political beliefs, or sexuality.
- Do use a strong paragraph for your professional summary, which is what helps hiring managers decide if they wish to keep reading and potentially call you for an interview.
- Do not include any information regarding why you left previous positions. You can answer this question in a professional manner if it comes up during the interview.
- Do read your CV to yourself, including out loud, several times to ensure you fix any spelling or grammar issues that could make you come across as unprofessional.
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